Oh you guys stop confusing everyone.
Tax in Germany is progressive! That means there is different tax brackets. Example: If you earn 100.000€ brutto a year, your effective tax is about 33%.
And 1,8% solidarity surcharge, that is for rebuilding eastern Germany after the communists. Then there is social security.
The 45% that float around are put together of 42% tax, a little bit solidarity surcharge AND social security (which covers unemployment) . But these 45% only apply to the Euros earned above approximately 65000/year.
I dont know why its constantly repeated here, how high tax in Germany would be. Income tax rates is much higher in many other EU-states..The highest bracket being often more than 50%. And VAT in Ger is below avg 19% too.
So what does the CPT salary which was stated above of 8000 brutto a month give net? Being insured in the public healthcare system (you can use a private insurance if you like to) it is 4300€. little? Yes. Every short haul FO that I know makes more.
Simple Tax calculator:
https://www.bmf-steuerrechner.de/ekst/?